BOSTON — So much for the Carl Crawford four-day plan.
A little over a week since Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said he wouldn't play Crawford in more than four consecutive games — to take care of his elbow — the outfielder has played in eight straight contests.
It's a sign of the organization's short-term trust that Crawford can at least trudge through the rest of the season despite his balky elbow.
"It was all part of a rehab process where they wanted to make sure that he was ready to go," Valentine said. "Once he passed those tests, we're playing it by day by day, and being that it's his birthday, I'm thinking the least he should do is play today.
"But he's playing great. He's swinging well and doing everything we need him to do in the outfield and on the bases. If he needs a day, he'll get a day, just like everyone else. Right now, there's nothing restricting him."
In the past week alone, Crawford has crushed three home runs and driven in eight runs.
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